Microsoft’s spatial intelligence connects people and objects in smart buildings

Source: Elvina Yang

Date: 2018/06/07

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Microsoft has introduced a new “spatial intelligence” platform-as-a-service technology for smart building management. It can help users find out which objects are moved or which rooms are occupied in a smart office.

According to Microsoft, the technology will be able to help space managers in buildings to see which conference rooms are empty or occupied, allowing them quickly assign spaces for urgent gathering.

It is also possible for building managers to track down any movable objects in buildings, such as a chair or a desk.

The company showcased a modern office concept at its developer event Build 2018. As a person entered a conference room, he or she will be added to an ongoing meeting automatically.

As more sensors are installed in modern buildings, Microsoft thinks that there should be also a management tool and technology to help figure out the relationships between people, places and devices in the building. That’s where the spatial intelligence comes in.

Several companies have announced to adopt the new technology from Microsoft, including workplace design company Steelcase, real estate company CBRE Group and enterprise building management solution provider Willow.

Honeywell is also one of the partners. It gives an example that Honeywell app combining with Microsoft’s spatial intelligence can enable users to check indoor location, mapping, routing, presence, proximity notifications and analytics. It will integrate the new technology into its building infrastructure solutions.
Earlier this year, Microsoft announced to invest US$5 billion in IoT over the next four years. It has been aggressively pushing IoT intelligence into its Azure cloud service.
Kohler, an American kitchen and bathroom appliances maker, has also used Microsoft’s Azure IoT to power its modern kitchen and bathroom scenes.

For instance, users can voice-control their bathtub, shower, toilet, mirror and faucet. The Kohler Konnect assistant, according to the company, knows the time homeowners wake up, and it will start the shower, set to the preferred temperature and tells the day’s weather and traffic from the mirror.

Microsoft’s spatial intelligence is currently in private preview mode. It will release for public preview later this year.